‘An elderly couple were forced to kiss one another goodbye following 69 years marriage this week after being sent to separate care homes.

Herbert and Audrey Goodine have been together for 73 years in total, spending the last three years together in a home.

However Herbert, who suffers from dementia, recently underwent a health assessment which found he should move to a new care home 45 minutes away.

In a heartbreaking clip filmed by the couple’s daughter, Dianne Phillips, the pair kiss one another goodbye. Audrey can be heard telling Herbert that she will be ‘jealous’ of other women at his new facility, as they will get to spend time with him.

Ms Phillips said her mum then stood at the window in New Brunswick, Canada, and watched as a van took Herbert away on Monday – one week before Christmas. Posting on Facebook, Ms Phillips – who says she understands why her dad has to be moved, but wishes the home had waited until after Christmas, said: ‘When talking to my parents yesterday I listened to my mother weep and I could hear my father in the background.

‘My mother said “Christmas is over for us now and this is the worst Christmas that we will ever have. Why could they not have waited till after the holidays.” I assured her that I tried everything to keep them together a few more days.’